Brine-unit-type refrigerating machine



H. E. HAR'RiS BRINES UNIT TYPE REFRIGERATING MACHINE Filed March 0. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 pl-i1 26,1927. H HARRIS BRINE UNIT TYPE REFRIGERATING MACHINE Filed March 0, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H Henw E Harris April 26, 1927. 1,626,083

H. E. HARRIS BRINE UNIT TYPE REFRIGERATING MACHINE Filed March 0. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. HARRIS, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

BRINE UNITTYPE REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

My invention relates to refrigerating ma chinery of the unit type, adapted to the coolmg of a circulating medium for use in any and all places where a closely coupled economical unit for refrigeration is essential.

A further object of my invention consists in a new, novel and useful means for main taining within the unit itself of the com- 1o pressor, the prime mover for operating the same; a base upon which it is mounted, a condensing chamber and an expansion chamber, with inlets and outlets for the cooling medium and the circulating medium.

A further object of my invention consists of a system of piping requiring the least possible number of joints and one that will be free from operating troubles by those unskilled in the operation of devices of this kind.

A further object of my invention consists in cooling the circulating medium within the space provided in the base of the frame of the machine itself.

A further objectof my invention consists in the placing, at or near-the discharge from the condenser, of a trap for eliminating undesirable substances from the cooling medium that has been compressed.

A further object of my invention consists in placing within the piping systemof a safety valve adapted to be actuated by the pressure from within, in the event that the expansion valve in the main channel should, for any reason, become closed.

A further object of my invention consists in the arrangement, location, and comparative size of the receiver being adapted to maintain the full charge of cooling medium,

in liquid form, with a suficient volume in addition to prevent the cooling medium while in the liquid state, from escaping therefrom into the compressor as a liquid, this balanced relationship between the condenser and the expansion chamber being of such an arrangement and combination of units as to prevent the liquid operating medium, asammonia, from entering the com 'pressor unit.

A further object of my invention consists in an adjustment arrangement,and adapt-ation of units, wherein there is but little likelihood of a freezingof the compressor unlt.

A further object of my invention consists of the main frame being adapted to maintain the prime mover thereupon for operating the same, the compressor, the condenser, a circulating pump and the concenser and the expansion chamber thereon; and an adequate space around the expansion chamber to carry a sufiicient amount of cooling liquid therein for operating purposes, the combined unit being assembled at the point of manufacture as a portable assembled operating mechanism.

WVith these and incidental objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and to a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an assembled side elevation, partially in section, of my completed device.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional 'view of the expansion chamber, for the cooling medium to be circulated therearound.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 4:4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view of the circuit of the operating medium through the compressor, the condensing chamber, and the expansion chamber.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

1 is the main frame of the machine, which I have found can be made preferably of cast material, adapted to vmount the compressor unit 2, at the-forward end of the same and having a prime mover, as an electric motor 3, disposed upon the rear upper p'ortionof the same. The compressor is of the vertical type having ajfly wheel a, adaptedto being driven through a belt or chain 5, coupled directly to the prime mover 3. 'The compressor is of the ordinary vertical water jacketed type, adapted to compressing a cooling medium, as ammonia. A condensing chamber 6, is disposed upon the upper lid portion of the frame structure, having heads 7 and 8, disposed therein and having a condensing tank chamber 9, disposed within the same adapted to the assage of the cooling liquid therearound and therethrough; the same is separated from the outer shell 6, by separator blocks 10 and 11, which I have found may be preferably made of wood or other cellular nonconducting materials. A pipe 12, is disposed at the outlet side of the compressor and is connected through piping 13, to the liquid trap 14, through which the compressed operating medium is passed, thence through valve 15, the piping system 16, and to the condensing chamber 17 disposed within the condenser chamber 6. A condensing medium, as cold water, is secured from an extraneous source through piping 18, into the chamber 19, within the chamber 6, and around the condensing chamber 17. The compressed condensed material, is then led through the pipe 20, and the valve 21, through the pip ing 22, and the expansion valve 23, thence into the pipe 24, into the expansion chamber 25, located within the base of the frame structure. The expansion chamber is surrounded by a tank 26, disposed within the base of the frame having an adequate volume for the passage of the cooling medium, as brine, which will occupy the space 27, around the expansion chamber located therein. A substantial and adequate thickness of insulation 28, is placed within the frame structure and around the tank 26, and all inlet and outlet pipin leading thereto and therefrom are covered to adequately and properly protect and eliminate the loss of low temperatures created within the tank 26, due to the expansion therein of the compressed operating liquid, as ammonia. A pipe 29, leads from the lower part of the chamber through which the cooling medium is circulated, terminates on its upper end in a temperature gauge 30. In the event that the expansion valve 23, should become closed, for any reason, a by-pass 31, is provided having a safety valve 32, disposed therein which is adapted to be operated from the within pressures'in, the event that the same should be required for safety purposes. The "ingsystem 33, leads the operating liquid tram, theexpansion chamber to the inlet side of. the compressor through pipe 34;, and valve 35. The pressure in the line is indicated by thegauge 36 disposed within the connection. The pressure within the trap tank 14, is indicated through the gauge 37. To properly utilize the low temperatures thus created, it is essential that the eooling'. medium, as brine, be circulated in and around the expansion chamber within the tank 26. This is accomplished by a circulating pump 38, being disposed upon the frame of the unit and being properly connected, as a closed circuit, through the unit here shown and into the cooling box located in close proximity or within a suitable oper ating radius from the unit here shown.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admittedly adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim,-

1. In a unit type refrigerating machine, a main frame, a compressor and a primemove'r mounted upon said frame, a cylindrical condensing chamber mounted upon said frame and adapted to having a condensing liquid passed therethrough, a cylindrical condensing chamber tank disposed within said condensing chamber and concentrical therewith; a cylindrical expansion chamber disposed within the frame, insulation material disposed thereabout; a cylindrical expansion tank disposed within said expansion chamber and concentrical therewith; and a piping circuit to properly connect the condensing chamber tank and the expansion tank to said compressor.

2. In a unit type refrigerating machine, a main case frame, said frame being provided with an interior compartment; insulating material within said interior compartment; a compressor and a prime mover disposed upon said frame; a condensing chamber mounted upon said frame; a condensing chamber tank disposed within said condensing chamber and concentric therewith; an expansion chamber disposed within the compartment of said frame, and within said insulating material; an expansion tank disposed within said expansion chamber and concentric therewith; said expansion tank being adapted to having a cooling medium flow therethrough; and said condensing chamber tank and said expansion tank being connected in series to the compressor by a piping circuit,

3. In a unit type refrigerating machine, comprising a main cast frame, a water jacketed compressor and a prime mover mounted upon the main frame"; a cylindrical condensing chamber mounted on said frame and adapted to having a condensing fluid passed therethrough; a sealed cylindrical condensing tank disposed within said condensing chamber and concentric therewith; saidcondensing tank having spaced walls, to form a tank having interior and exterior walls exposed to the condensing fluid passing through the condensing chamber; a cylindricalex pansion chamber mounted within the frame and adapted to have a cooling medium flow therethrough; insulating material disposed about said expansion chamber; a cylindrical expansion tank disposed Within said expansion chamber and concentric therewith; said expansion tank having spaced parallel Walls to form a tank having exterior and interior walls exposed to the cooling medium flowing through the expansion chamber; a closed piping circuit to conduct a refrigerant, from the compressor through the condensing tank and through the expansion tank, and back to the compressor; and a piping circuit connecting the condensing chamber and the water jacket of the compressor.

HENRY E. HARRIS, 

